Antiskid device for vehicle-wheels



c. P. SMITH. AN TISKID DEVICE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS. APPLICATION FILEDSEPT.23. 1918.

1 ,33 1', 945 Patentev Feb. 24, 19-20.

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ANTISKID DEVICE FOR VEHICLE WHEELS. APPulcATloN FILED sEPT.2a. ma.

l1,331,94z5. f Paten'te Feb; 24,1920.

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. CHARLES P. SMITH; OE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AivTIsKID DEvIcn rox vEHicIiE-WHELS.

Specificajt iroii of Letters I' atent. Patented Feb; 245 1920.

l Application filed September 23, V1918. `Serial No. 255,325v

n j V W To all 'whom zt may comem:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. SMITH, a Citizen` of the UnitedVStates,l` residing at Louisville in the county of Jefferson and State ofzKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AntiskidDevices for Vehicle-Wheels, of Which the' following is a speeification.

This invention relatesto anti-Skid devices for automobile and otherVehicle Wheels and has as its primary object to provide a devicepermanently carried by each of the rear Wheels and embodying ananti-SkidV element Which may be caused to be projected into roadengaging position through the mere operation of a foot pedal or handlever and Which may be similarly retracted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a 'device for thepurpose stated so constructed that When the road engaging elements areprojected they Will so engage the road surface as to effectually preventskidding of'the Wheels toward either side and When in retracted positionWillu in no Way impair the resiliency of the cushioning devices forcarried. A V

Ordinarily devices of this class are so constructed that their roadengaging elements, When projected, are rigidly held in such position andas a consequence 'such Vdevices are not adapted to meet all roadconditions. They may Work satisfactorily Where the road surface' is ofdirt or other relatively non-compact material, but onV macadam orconcrete roads, for example, oron asphalt pavements they are unsuitablefor use as they Will either dig into the road surface in 'amanner togreatly injure the same or Will themselves become damaged by impact Withhe road surface if the sameiis'too hard to be penetrated by the saidengaging elements. Therefore, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a device of this classembodying road surface engagingelements Which in. their projected position Will be so held as to beyieldable to a desired degree upon impact With a roadV surface Whichthey cannot penetrate or Which it is undesirable that they shouldpenetrate, injury to the road surface and to the anti-Skid device itselfbeing in this .manner entirely cbviated'a's Well-as the disagreeable andannoying jarring which attends the use of anti-Skid devices in Which thecorresponding 'elements Will be individually tripped and the Wheels. by,Which they areV elements are non-yieldably heldin projected position.

` VA furtherobject of the invention to so construct'the anti-Skid devicethat the lpresence and operation of the means provided.l for actuatingVthe road engaging elements to project and retract the same Will not inVany Way'impede the progress` of the machine,

there being anV absence of any directconnect-ion Whatsoeve'r between theparts of the device carried bycthe rear Wheels and the dev1ce directlyactuated through the moveinent of the operating pedal or lever.

A further object of the invention is to so eonstructthedevice that theVroad engaging elements Will be independently yieldable `When inprojected position so that the yielding-of any one of the elements Willnot be resisted by reason of any connection betWeen it and` any other orothers of Vthe elements. In this respectl also the invention has as itsobject to so construct the means for actuating or tripping the saidelements to project and retract the same that the said successively inthe'rotation'of the Wheel by lWhich they are Vcarried so that no greatstrain Will be imposed upon the tripping means liable lto disarrange orinjure' the same, and on the other hand, asV stated above, no Vstrain-Will be imposed such as Would' tend to retard the progress of the ingshown in plan and others in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical Sectional view on theV line 2-2 of Fig. Iillustrat'ing the device inelevation Fig. 3 is a view .in side elevationofa portiony of the device illustrating one of theV road engagingelements and itsv associated parts, the said element being projected;

Fig. 4 is a similar viewlooking at the opposite side of the said elementandits said` associatedV parts; i v

Fig. 5 lis a group perspective view illus- Vtrating the parts shown inFigs. 3 and 4 disassemloled:` V I The device-'embodying thel presentinven- -Vtion is to be applied tothe rear Wheels of eso ' the Vehicleand inthedrawingsfthe'numeral 1 indicates'in vgeneral one ofthe rearwheels, 2 the felly thereof, 3 the pneumatic tire, and

4 the spokes, the rear.axlei.bein'gindicated V by the numeral 5 andbeing housed within the usual rear aXle casing 6.

The device embodying the present invention 'includes an 'annularsupporting frame for the road engaging elements and their associatedparts. This frame stands at the -inner `:sideV of the Wall andycomprises an v inner annular'plate 7 and an outerannular plate 8. Theplates 7 and 8are concentrically arranged'With relation to each otherand to lthe aXis of the wheel andare connected and relatively braced inamanner which -Willbe presently explained. It will also-be observed byreferenceto yF ig. 1 of the drawings that the plates 7 and 8 arerelatively laterally displaced ;V that is to say, the plate V7isdisplaced laterally in an outward direction with relation to the plate8 so thatthefframe as a Whole may be said to be dished, and thepurposeof thus forming the framewill. be presently set forth. In

Vordery to secure the frame to the Wheelv 1,

i suitable U-clips 9V are disposed to embrace certain of the spokes 4 ofthe wheel and havetheir ends fitted through openings in the inner plate7, nuts 10.|oeingV applied to the said inner ends of the bolts. Byconstructing the frame inthis manner, the same maybe readly appliedtoand detached from any Ordinary Vehicle Wheel Without in any Wayaltering` the, construction of the zwh'eel itself.

The means above referred to for relatively bracing the frame plates 7and 8 constitutes alsoan anchoring meansfor certain Springs to behereinafter more specifically described and as a guiding means fortheroad engaging, elements and the projecting Amembers associatedtherewith, and the means referred to comprises' plates 11 and 12 whichare Varranged in an annular series of sets and a whichl are riveted orotherwise secured'at their inner and `Outer-ends respectively to A theplates 7 land 8,-as clearly shownV in Figs.

3, 4 a'ndf of the drawings, the said plates 11 and 12 extendingradiallyWith relation to they center of the frame of the device. In

order to complete the guiding means for the road engaging elements andtheir projecting members segmental plates 13 and 14 are also providedand these plates, Which correspond in curvature respectively to theplates 7 'and 8. are riveted or otherwise secured at their endsrespect'ively to the inner and outer en'ds of 'theplates 11 and 12 so asto span the space between the said ends of the plates 11 and 12-ofeach'set. i It Will be evident by reference'to'Fig 1 of the drawingsthat the plates 13 and 14 are located iir position facing-but spacedfrom thefouter faces of the plates'7` and 8 sothat the road engagingelethesaid shankl andthis projecting memzgaging element and its Vother.lateral 4edge .bers in place.V There isprovided between 'zment's Iand`the :respective projecting members may be guided between the saidplates 13 and 14 and 7 and 8 as well as between the'adjacentorzopposingedges of the plates 11 and 12. Each roadengaging'element, indicated'in general by the numeral 15, comprises ashank 16 formed at its outer end With'aroad engaging tooth or spur :17which is deflected at-an angle to the plane of the shank, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1V of the drawi'hgs. The shank 16 of the roadengaglingelement 15 is slidably disposed against the inner faces of theplates 7 -and Sinthe manner clearly shown zin the said F ig; 1 and withone lateral edge resting lslidably against the innerlateraledge of.therespective plate V12, the shank16 being` yheld fin .place by theplates .1,3 and 14.l .Theprojecting member .for theroad.engagingzelementpis indicated ingeneral by the numeral 18and comprisesa;fiatzsided bar of substantially-the same thickness and Width as .theshankoftlie road engaging'element, but of a .length somewhat less thantheylength of ber is slidably disposed against the .inner faces ofthe-plates 7 and 8 With one lateral edge slidably 'engagingtheadjacent'lateral edge-of the shank of the respective road .en-

slidably engaging the .inner`v lateral -edgefof the respectivelplate 11.As in the case of sition When 'the tripping .means heretofore referredto is actuated in a manner tobe presently explained. This connection inyclu'des a rockerioriangle lever 19 which is pivotally mounted uponthereduced-end of a stud 20 carried; atvthe inner end of the respectiveprojecting member 18. The innerV lportion of this stud,when thesaidmember 18 is at the'outward limit of'its movement, is designed to -seatinV a notch121formedin the inner edge ofl the respectivevplate 13thuslimiting the saidoutward movement of the said member. The angle lever 19includes arms 22 andV '23 gwhicli extend at a Vsuitable -angle to'eachother, and the arm 22 carries at its outer end a transverse pin whichprojects at` its ends beyond the opposite sides or faces of the arm 22.Thispln isindicated in gen- 125 eral'bythe numeral 24 and'one .of itsprojectmg ends isindicated bykthe-numeral 25 Vandl the other'zby thenumeral. 26, the end' 25 'constituting a trip element andV the end 26 astop element as will be presently explained.

A pin' 27 .is carried by the outer end of the arm 23 and pivotallyconnected With this the said road engaging element to seat in a lnotch30` formed in the Outer edge of the respective plate 14. The engagementVof this stud 29-n the lsaid notch' serves. to

limit the inward movement of the said road engaging element. At thispoint it Will be evident and particularly by reference to Fig. 3 of thedraWings, that the arm 23 and the link 28 constitute a toggle lever.This straightens out When the road engaging element 15 is iny projectedposition, and now the link 28 and the arm 23 of the angle lever 19 Willbe nearly in alinement and the end 26 of the pin 24 Will serve as a stopand engage against the inner end of the shank 16 of the said roadengaging. element, the stud 20 seating at such time in the notch 21.VVhen the parts are thus relatively positioned substantially a directthrust Will be exerted againstthe angle lever 19 through Vthe medium ofthe link 28, When force is exerted in an inWard direction against the'.road engaging element. On the other hand, should the angle lever 19 besw'ung upon its pivot 20` to the position Vshown in Fig. 2

.so that thelinks of the toggle are deflected,

the end 26 of the pin 24 would be moved out of engagement With the innerend of the shank 16ifof the road engaging element 15 and the arm 23 ofthe angle lever Would be swung to such position that. it and the link 28Would be out of alinement and it Willi further be understood that shouldthe projecting eleme-nt 18 be held stationary in this movement of theparts, the road engaging element Would be moved invvardlyor retractedindependent of the said projecting member.

In order to yieldably hold the projecting member 18 at the outvvardlimit of its slidcoiled between itsends as at 32 and has itscoil engagedWith 'a lug or ear 33 uponthe outer lateral edge of the plate 12 of` theadi'acent set of plates 11 and 12; One arm of this spring, namely, theinner arm indicated by the numeral 34, bears at its end against a stud35 upon the plate 11 near the inner endof the said plate. It ispreferable that a notch. 36 be formed in the studto receive the said endof the armV 34 v of the spring soas to prevent accidental disengagementof the arm from thestud. The other or outer arm of the spring, indicatedby'the numeral-37 bears outtvardly against Va stud 38 upon. the face ofthe ,projecting member j 18, and lthe resiliency of the'sprngtendengaging elements `When these elements.

come into contactvvith a macadam or concreteV road, or an asphaltpavement, under Which conditions it Would be undesirable for the spursto Apenetrate the road surface or strike the same Without yielding. ItWill be understood, of course, from the foregoing that the Springs 31 donot Vact directly against the road engaging elements but, on the otherhand, act through the medium of the projecting members 18 because of theengagement of the ends 26 of the pins 24 against the inner ends of thesaid road 'engaging elements. In order to automatically retract the roadengaging elements When-theI angle levers 19 .are tripped or svvung uponitheir pivots so as to movethe pivots 27 connecting them and the links 28to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawingssprings 39 eov (Weakerthan Springs 31) are coiled'betvveen y their ends as indicated by thenumeral'40, and their coils are engaged With lugs or ears 41 upon theplates 12. One end of each of these Springs, indicated by the numeral42, bears at its end against a stud 43 upon the face of the respectiveroad engaging element 15, and the other arm of the spring, indicated bythe numeral 44, bears against a stud 45 upon the respective plate 11.The arms of the Springs, of course, tend to separate through theresiliency of the Springs and the Springs are of such strength'as toperform the function of inwardly sliding or retracting the road engagingelements but are not sufiiciently strong to -overcome the action of thesprings 31 by resisting thel force exerted by the latter springs to anyappreciable degree.

i The means provided for trippingthe angle levers 19 of the several roadengaging de- .vices heretofore described includes heads ments` oneindicated by the numeral 49 and the other by the numeral 50, the spaceVbetWeen these abutments being indicated by Each head 46v is providedWith spaced abutthe numeral "51 and being substantially of a 'Widthslightly greater than the distance between the pins 24 and 27 of any oneof the road engaging devices. Operating rods 52 are pivotally connectedwith the heads 46V at their' inner ends or, lin' other words, at theirends opposite their abutment portions 49 and 50, and these rods 52 leadto. and are suitably connected with any desired form of `operating leveror pedal (not shown) located wlthin convenient reach of the be Vspacedinwardly from the line of tread of the wheel to such distance as to notcome in contact with the road surface in the passage of the wheelsthereover.

of the Vehicle imminent, the operating lever lor pedal is so thrown asto bring the abutment portion'49 of each head 46 into the path of travelof the projecting ends 25 of the pins 24. As a result, as these ends ofthe pins pass the said portion 49, they will strike the portion and theangle levers 19 will be successively tripped or rocked upon their pivots20 until they assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings. As' the angle levers are so rocked, an outward thrust Will beexerted against the links 28 and the road engaging elements 15 Will beprojected into engaging position in Which position their spurs 17 willproject beyond the line of tread of the tires of .the wheels and will,therefore, be adapted to engage the road surface. As before pointed out,inwardV movement of the road engaging elements exerts a substantiallydirect thrust, through the links 28, against .the angle levers 19 andtheir pivots 20 and, consequently, against the projecting members 18 sothat such movement of the road engagng elements is against the tensionof the Springs 31 which yieldably resist inward movement of the saidprojecting members. Also, as before pointediout, the engagement of theends 26 of the pins 24 against the inner ends 'of the road engagingelements serves to connect these elements for movement'with theprojecting members 18.

vAfter the danger point in the road has been passed and there isconsidered to be no further likelihood of the V`Vehicle skidding, theroad engagingelement may be restored to their retracted positions bythrowing the operating lever or pedalinV a manner `tov bring theabutment `portions e 50 of the heads 46 into the path of movement ofthepins V27 of the respective road engaging devices, and as these pinsstrike and pass the saidV portion 50, the angle le- Should V 'the driverof the Vehicle consider skidding vers 19 Will be tripped so as to causeall parts to resume the position shown Vin vF ig. 2 of the drawings.

Having thus described the i invention, wh-at is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a

road engaging member guided for radial movement in a wheel, an angularrocker pivoted at its angle and having pins at the .member isAprojected, the pin on the other arm' extends across the inner end ofsaid `member, Iand means for tripping the rocker.V

2. VIn a device of the class described, a

Vroad engaging member and a projecting member movable` along side eachother radially of a wheel, yielding means bear- Ving the first memberinwardly and the second member outwardly, an 'angle lever pivoted at itsangle on the projecting member and having pins at the `Outer ends of itsarms, a link pivoted at one` end to the road member and at the other endon the pin of one arm and with said arm oonstituting a toggle lever, thearrangement of 'parts 'being such that when? said toggle is straight theroad member is projected and the pin on the other arm stands against thelinner end of this member, and means for tripping the angle lever. V

3. In an anti-Skid device, a road. engaging member, a projecting member,associated therewith, the said members being relatively slidable in aradial direction, a rocking lever .mounted upon one of the lOU saidmembers, a link connecting one Varm of the lever with the other member,means yieldably urging the projecting member outwardly and the othermember inwardly, and means for tripping the lever to change theVposition of the said ylink with relation to the pivot for the lever.

' p 4. In an anti-skid device, a road engaging member and a projectingmember mounted for relative sliding movement, a

rocker carried by the projecting member,

`the road engaging' member, and'means for` tripping'the said rockingelement whereby to vary the position of the link with relaton to astraightV line passing through its pivot to the said rocking element andthe pvot between the link andV thegroad engaging member.

6. ln an anti road engaging members and a plurality of projectingmembers associated therewith, the first-mentoned members being movablewith relation to the last-mentioned .members, means yieldably holdingthe projectng members moved n an outWard direction,

a rocker pvotally mounted uponeach proskd device, a plurality of.`

jectng member, a link pvotally connected With each rocker and With therespective road engagingAmember,y means yieldably 15 holding the roadengaging members vmoved. inwardly, trip elements carried by eachrockerand located at the opposte Sides of the pivot therefor; and meansadjustable to) be brought into the path of either set of 20 l tripelements selectively.

ln testimony Whereofl I afiix my signature.

4 CHARLES P. SMITH. [1.. '8.1

